Barristers CLE :: News and Commentary

Like Wyatt Earp, Who Will You Thank for Always Being There?

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 05:23:14 -0500

Thoughts on Balancing Life & the Law

by Charissa Newman, LPC, Program Coordinator for Barristers CLE

It took me over 40 years to learn the meaning of life. Family. A loving, caring, joyous, supportive family, that is. A family that often encompasses our dearest and closest friends. For years I thought that my happiness would be realized through a career in academia, and then as a counselor. I've done both in varying degrees. I've enjoyed aspects of both and I've loathed aspects of both, but I never found the contentment which I sought. Little did I know that I had projected my wish for happiness onto careers that, while perhaps gratifying in many ways, were incapable of giving me true happiness. And I've learned that more than a few lawyers share my experience.

Research shows that we are happiest when we make connections with other people. If you think your career, by itself, will bring you true happiness, consider this:

I once worked for Hospice and had the privilege of hearing some of the last words spoken by others. Interestingly, they never spoke of their careers, their pride in working 12 hour days or crushing their competitors. They spoke about the people they cared most about. They told long and wonderfully rambling stories that spoke of love and laughter and the people most dear to them. They spoke of loss, the cruel twists of fate such as miscarriages, children dying first who defied the natural order of things, and the parents, spouses and friends who were gone too soon. They spoke of love lost and love found. But they did not speak of loving their jobs/careers immensely.

In the same vein, I've been thinking about the theme for this year's Recent Developments seminars at Barristers - lessons inspired by the hit movie Tombstone. In the movie, do you remember what Doc Holliday spoke of on his deathbed? He spoke of the only woman he had ever loved, and he expressed his deep love for his best friend, Wyatt Earp, by saying, "you're the only human being in my entire life that ever gave me hope..." In turn, Wyatt thanks Doc "for always being there." Who will you thank for always being there? Who gives you hope when the law or other aspects of your life let you down. What will your last words be? Hopefully, we can all take a lesson from Doc's last words: "Live every second. Live right on to the end."

For more information about the upcoming Tombstone-themed Recent Developments seminars from Barristers, visit www.BarristersCLE.com.

Thoughts on Balancing Life & the Law is written by Charissa Newman, a licensed professional counselor, and will become a regular feature on the Barristers blog. It will alternate with the other blog regulars: New Law Briefing, Tech Tips for Lawyers, and Odds & Ends in the Legal World (Mostly Odd). Thanks for being a loyal customer of Barristers Educational Services.

Ohio Woman Arrested for "Breaking and Cleaning"

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 09:17:42 -0500

Odds & Ends in the Legal World (Mostly Odd)

by William R. Newman, J. D., President of Barristers CLE

Susan Warren of Elyira, Ohio has earned the title of "The Cleaning Fairy" after she was arrested last month for breaking into a Westlake home where she proceeded to wash the dishes, vacuum the playroom, and take out the trash. She had picked the house at random and had no idea who lived there. Once finished with the chores, she left her name and number on the kitchen table with a bill for $75.

When the shocked owners returned home and discovered a tidier house than they had left, they phoned police who called the number left by Ms. Warren. She became irate when the cop began questioning her. "I do this all the time!" she screamed, before hanging up on the officer. After her arrest, she explained that she was desperate for money.

The arrest, however, puts the Westlake prosecutors in a bit of a pickle. As most of our readers will recall from law school, the crime of burglary generally requires that the defendant break into a dwelling with the intent to commit a felony therein (like theft). Cleaning, per se, is not a crime, and that's all Ms. Warren did after breaking into the house. Thus, it appears the most serious charge is criminal trespass, which carries only a 30-day jail sentence in Ohio.

For more news on recent case law -- serious and silly -- check out the upcoming Recent Developments CLE courses and webcasts being offered by Barristers this summer (in Little Rock on June 29th and in seven different cities throughout Mississippi in July). Visit www.BarristersCLE.com for all the details.

Odds & Ends in the Legal World (Mostly Odd) will become a regular feature on the Barristers blog. It will alternate with other blog regulars: New Law Briefing, Tech Tips for Lawyers, and Thoughts on Balancing Law & Life. Thanks for being a loyal customer of Barristers Educational Services.

All New 2-Hour CLE Webcasts!

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:31:48 -0500

Get a jump on the upcoming CLE deadline!

Check out the convenience of earning CLE credit from the comfort of your home or office for only $99 per 2-hour course. These 2-hour webcasts are live events and permit you to pose questions to the speaker online if you wish. And the 2-hour format is the perfect size -- earn CLE credit on your computer without sacrificing a whole day at a hotel meeting room.

Choose from these upcoming courses, all featuring our acclaimed Barristers faculty:

Patent, Trademark, Copyright Fundamentals for General Practitioners
May 17th - (2pm - 4pm Central)

Presidential Ethics: Lessons for Lawyers from the White House (ethics credit)
May 18th - (10am - 12pm Central)

Basics of Contract Drafting
June 19th - (10am - 12pm Central)

Patent, Trademark, Copyright Fundamentals for General Practitioners
June 20th - (2pm - 4pm Central)

Presidential Ethics: Lessons for Lawyers from the White House
June 21st - (10am - 12pm Central)

Tips for Effective Voir Dire & Jury Selection
June 22nd - (10am - 12pm Central)

Visit the "Live Webcasts" page of our website for more information by clicking here (or call us at 1-800-874-8556).

Litigation Skills & the American Presidency Featured in New Online CLE from Barristers

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:40:42 -0500

Check out the exciting new line-up of online CLE courses that we've added to the Barristers website today!

On-Demand courses (recorded lectures you can watch online anytime you're ready) include an all-new Litigation Bundle -- 6 one-hour lectures on different aspects of trial practice. Click here for details.

We also have some great Live Webcasts coming up these next three months, including courses on Contract Drafting, the First Amendment, Publishing Law, Jury Selection, and our much talked about Presidential Ethics (stories of former Presidents & the ethics lessons we learn from them). Click here for details.

Visit BarristersCLE.com for complete details on all our Online CLE offerings as well as our traditional, in-person seminars.

Barristers Now Offers Online CLE

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 09:30:53 -0600

Barristers now offers the ultimate in CLE convenience! Many of our most popular and practical CLE programs are now available online - 24/7. Last week we launched the Online CLE page of our website with seven different one-hour courses (dozens more will be added in the coming months).

Now you can earn CLE credits whenever you're ready - without leaving your home or office. These seminars feature high-production elements, a downloadable seminar manual, a Discussions forum where you can exchange thoughts with other lawyers taking the same course, and a Q & A forum where you can pose a question directly to the speaker - anytime!

And in the great tradition of Barristers value, you can save big money by purchasing a bundle of 6 one-hour online courses for one low price (then view the courses at your convenience over the next 30 days). Even better -- purchase one of our traditional "live" seminars, and get a 6-hour bundle of online CLE at HALF-PRICE.

So visit www.BarristersCLE.com and click the "CLE Online" page. And get the most practical, convenient, and cost-effective CLE on the market!

New Barristers Website Launched

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:50:13 -0500

Check out the completely re-designed website at BarristersCLE.com. New, sleek, easy-to-navigate, and interactive!

Plus, registering for CLE online has never been easier with our all-new registration and checkout system.

Be watching later this fall for other exciting new offerings from Barristers -- online/on-demand seminars and the new Barristers Gazette Blog (featuring odds & ends in the legal world - mostly odd)! Don't miss our often light-hearted take on the legal world by signing up to receive these monthly blog entries. Visit the Blog page of the new website to sign up! (And while you're at it, be sure to join our Facebook page!)

Alabama & Tennessee Courses Announced for Winter 2010-11

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:14:13 -0500

Barristers will be presenting 8 seminars in Alabama and 14 seminars in Tennessee this winter.

As always, Buy One Seminar for $290; get a Second Seminar for HALF-PRICE ($145)!

For a list and description of these seminars, click here.